Game-timing clock



y 9, 1933- E. A. SCHLUETER 1,998,452

GAME TIMING CLOCK Filed April '7, 1951 E' L' 3 7 a"? m 7' A l /5 0 0 35INVENTOR 504M499 1 3. SCWLUETE/R ATTORNEY v Fatented May 9, i933 urlrrnear lfittgllit EDWARD A. SCHLUETER, (OF AEAMEDA, @ALEFORNIA, ASSIGNQR1'0 F. A. THOMAS GOMPANY, INCL, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ACOBPORA'IIQN CALIFORNIA (GAME-TIMING QUICK application med April 't,

football games, basketball games, and the like, and particularly toscore hoard clocks for the use of spectators.

Among the objects of my invention are: To provide a score board clockwhich gives an actual record of playing time,'and which does not have tobe manually set by a score hoard keeper; to provide a clock which isdirectly under the control of the timekeeper, and

. which replaces the customary stop watch with a more accurate anddependable instrument; to providea clock which may he run backward athigh speed in resetting between periods of the game; to provide a clockwhich starts and stops instantly under the remote control of thetimekeeper; and to provide a clock which resets rapidly and definitelyto zero time when desired.

Other objects of my invention will be apparent or will be specificallypointed out in the description forming a part of this specification, butI do not limit myself to the embodiment of my invention hereindescribed, as various forms may be adopted within the scope of theclaims. Referringv to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation showing one embodiment of my invention asviewed by the spectators.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the clock shown in Figure 1, the electricalcontrol circuit being diagrammatically indicated in the figure.

In timing football games, basketball games, and the like, it has longbeen customary for the timekeeper to use a stop watch to keep track oftheactual time of play, starting or stopping the watch at the gun or theoflicials signals. Spectators at the game have been apprised of theplaying time by means of a large clock face whose hands'are manually setby a score board keeper in response to telephoned'instructions or tosignals from theplaying field.

This practice, although the best available, has been notoriouslyunsatisfactory. It is easy to fumble in the manipulation of a stopwatch, and this constantly occurs. Moreover, signals to the score boardtender are easily misunderstood and can at best only 1931. Serial No.528,3lt,

be communicated to him at intervals, and at crucial moments of playthere is always doubt as to the actual time factor.

lvly invention provides a remedy for these unsatisfactory conditions.Broadly considered, it comprises an electrically driven cloclr which mayhe the score board clock itself, or may be a small pilot clock in thehands of the timekeeper. This electric clock is stopped; or started bymanipulating a switch. The synchronous motor with which the clock isdriven is frictionally geared to the hand or hands marking the minutesof play, the hand moving or stopping as the circuit to the motor is madeor broken. l

addition to the timing motor, the clock is provided with a second motor,preferably asynchronous, which is positively geared to the hand to driveit in the reverse direction. When it is desired to reset the clock thecir cuit to the second motor is closed, when the motor revolves the handin reverse direction and at greatly increased speed, so that resettingrequires but a few seconds to return the hand over the space which ithas required many minutes to traverse during the timing operation. Astop is provided to block the hand definitely at its predetermined zeroposition, the motor being sobonstructed that it is undamaged by beingblocked.

land back plate 5, which are spaced by posts 6. Journaled in the frontand back plate is a .shaft 7, upon which is fixed a large minute hand 8.

Mounted on the shaft 7 are two gears .19 W

and 11, which are preferably of the same size and pitch. The gear 10 ispermanently fixed to the shaft. The gear 11 is journaled to turn uponthe shaft, but 'is rotatably joined therewith by a clutch mechanismwhich may .comprise a spring 12 and friction plate 13,

the latter bearing against the face of the gear 11 so that gear andshaft tend to rotate together. Any type of friction clutch, which iscapable of slipping, may be utilized instead of the one shown to connectthe gear and shaft together.

Mounted on the back plate 5, by means of the post 15 and plate 16, is asynchronous a the front, and back plates of the frame and which carriesthe disk 23 of an induction disk type motor whose field magnet 25 isfixed to the frame. The pinion 21 may be of the same size and number ofteeth as the pinion 20, and the shaft 22 may be carried through theclock dial and have mounted upon it a second hand if desired, althoughthis is not ordinarily required.

Coils 26, which excite the induction motor field 25, are supplied froman alternating current line 27, and controlled by a switch 28. The leads30 for supplying the synchronous motor are bridged across the same line,the motor being controlled by a switch 31. Shading coils are supplied onthe field 25 to cause the disk to rotate in the opposite direction fromthe shaft of the synchronous motor 17. As this is well knownconstruction for motors of this type, the shadingcoils are not shown.

Secured to the face of the gear 10 is a stop -plate '32, which engages apawl or stop 33,

mounted on the front plate 3. The location I of the stop plate 32 andpawl 33 is such that the zero position.

the two engage when theminute hand is at In using the clock, the switch28 isfirst closed to rotate the hand in reverse direction to the zeroposition, where it is definitely blocked. This blocking does not injurethe induction disk motor, which --may be left "across the circuitindefinitely in the blocked condition without harm to its winding. Theswitch 28 is then opened, after which the timing is carried on in theordinary'manner by closing switch 31 for time in and opening said switchfor time out;

At the end of the time allotted for each period of the game, the switch28 is again closed to return the hand to the zero position. It may benoted that this return to zero will occur even though switches 31 and 28be closed simultaneously, the clutch slipping to permit the reverserifiat'ion of the hand.

I claim:

1. A game-timing clock comprising a minute shaft, a minute hand fixed tosaid shaft, a gear mounted to rotate on said shaft, a friction clutchfor rotating said shaft with said gear, a synchronous motor having apinion meshed with said gear to drive said shaft, a second motor gearedto slip said clutch and drive said shaft at increased speed, and meansfor stopping the rotation of said shaft by said second motor at apredetermined position.

2. A game-timing clock comprising a minute shaft, a minute hand fixed tosaid shaft, a gear mounted to rotate on said shaft, a friction clutchfor rotating said shaft with said gear, a synchronous motor having apinion meshed with said gear to drive said shaft, a

second gear fixed to said shaft, and a second motor having a pinionmeshed with said fixed gear, whereby said shaft may be driven atincreased speed by slipping said clutch.

3. A game-timing clock comprising a minute shaft, a minute hand fixed tosaid shaft, a gear mounted to rotate on said shaft, a friction clutchfor rotating said shaft with said gear, a synchronousmotor having apinion meshed with said gear to drive said shaft, a second gear fixed tosaid shaft, and an asynchronous motor having a driving pinion meshedwith said fixed gear for driving said shaft in reverse direction atincreased speed.

4. A game-timing clock comprising a minute shaft, a minute hand fixed tosaid shaft, a gear mounted to rotate on said shaft, a friction clutchfor rotating said shaft with said gear, a synchronous motor having apinion meshed with said gear to drive said shaft, a second gear fixed tosaid shaft, an asynchronous motor having a driving pinion meshed withsaid fixed gear for driving said shaft in reverse direction at increasedspeed, and means for blocking said second motor and said shaft at apredetermined position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

EDWARD A. SCHLUETER.

